Irrespective of the reason you got to the conclusion that refreshing your home is a must, you have to take into account several aspects before starting to invest money into it. Either because you want to sell your property for more, or because you simply think ‘home’ doesn’t feel like ‘home’ anymore, here is what you need to know.
Adding value and flair to your property might seem easy at first sight, however, most homeowners appear to get lost in the huge number of decisions they have to make. In order to avoid some of the most common errors, here are some reliable tips and tricks to make your life a lot easier.
Innovative remodeling tricks every homeowner must know!
Even though DIY remodeling projects may sound tempting, here is some food for thought before you make up your mind – tips that will help you convert everything into a real success!
Is remodeling the right choice for you too?
First of all, you need to see the matter from an objective point of view – Do you really need to remodel your home? Are you ready for bigger projects or only small ones? You have to be aware that remodeling a home might actually take more time and require more money than you can actually anticipate. So are you really prepared? This is why, you strongly need an expert’s opinion and a backup plan too!
Make a list of wishes and try to keep track of it
When starting a home remodeling project, it is very difficult not to change your mind once in a while, however, this might actually get to turn into a serious problem if you seem to change your mind too often. Why? Delays! Your team of specialists already has a schedule to follow, but if you always interrupt them, guess what? The plan will suffer delays that can cost you extra…remodeling ideas
Bigger projects mean you have to move out
Even though you might be thinking that moving out of your place when remodeling might just add extra costs to your budget, well you should think twice – it’s all about staying out of the way. Otherwise said, once you hire a team of specialists, let them do their job and try not to be a distraction, but instead a real support!
Make a budget and be ready for the worst-case scenario too
Jotting down a list of wishes might sound a lot easier than calculating a realistic budget; and this is simply because there is no room left for errors here… To be able to make a realistic plan, you need to know exactly what you can really afford.
Being prepared for the worst case scenario means that you have to be prepared for supply shortages, miscommunications or unexpected expenses; they can be part of your home remodeling project…
Focus on the things you really need
If you want to boost your resale potential, get a real estate expert to give you an insight into the industry – best practices, things most buyers look for, at that period of the year, or the areas you should focus on.
From another point of view, if you want to start a remodeling project you firstly need to establish what your future buyers are most likely to be interested in or if you are doing this for yourself, what you and your family really need. Try to stay with your feet on the ground and do what really matters; get a professional’s opinion and keep in mind – details do the trick!
Keeping costs down while home remodeling might just sound impossible at first sight. The huge number of variables involved in the process or the problems that might arise, can turn things upside down for you. However, by following some simple guidelines, you can actually keep things under control…
Save money with these smart remodeling tips!September 24, 2015 at 10:19 am Lisa Ross 0 Tips & Tricks

Irrespective of the reason you got to the conclusion that refreshing your home is a must, you have to take into account several aspects before starting to invest money into it. Either because you want to sell your property for more, or because you simply think ‘home’ doesn’t feel like ‘home’ anymore, here is what you need to know.
Adding value and flair to your property might seem easy at first sight, however, most homeowners appear to get lost in the huge number of decisions they have to make. In order to avoid some of the most common errors, here are some reliable tips and tricks to make your life a lot easier.
Innovative remodeling tricks every homeowner must know!
Even though DIY remodeling projects may sound tempting, here is some food for thought before you make up your mind – tips that will help you convert everything into a real success!
Is remodeling the right choice for you too?
First of all, you need to see the matter from an objective point of view – Do you really need to remodel your home? Are you ready for bigger projects or only small ones? You have to be aware that remodeling a home might actually take more time and require more money than you can actually anticipate. So are you really prepared? This is why, you strongly need an expert’s opinion and a backup plan too!
Make a list of wishes and try to keep track of it
When starting a home remodeling project, it is very difficult not to change your mind once in a while, however, this might actually get to turn into a serious problem if you seem to change your mind too often. Why? Delays! Your team of specialists already has a schedule to follow, but if you always interrupt them, guess what? The plan will suffer delays that can cost you extra…remodeling ideas
Bigger projects mean you have to move out
Even though you might be thinking that moving out of your place when remodeling might just add extra costs to your budget, well you should think twice – it’s all about staying out of the way. Otherwise said, once you hire a team of specialists, let them do their job and try not to be a distraction, but instead a real support!
Make a budget and be ready for the worst-case scenario too
Jotting down a list of wishes might sound a lot easier than calculating a realistic budget; and this is simply because there is no room left for errors here… To be able to make a realistic plan, you need to know exactly what you can really afford.
Being prepared for the worst case scenario means that you have to be prepared for supply shortages, miscommunications or unexpected expenses; they can be part of your home remodeling project…
Focus on the things you really need
If you want to boost your resale potential, get a real estate expert to give you an insight into the industry – best practices, things most buyers look for, at that period of the year, or the areas you should focus on.
From another point of view, if you want to start a remodeling project you firstly need to establish what your future buyers are most likely to be interested in or if you are doing this for yourself, what you and your family really need. Try to stay with your feet on the ground and do what really matters; get a professional’s opinion and keep in mind – details do the trick!
Keeping costs down while home remodeling might just sound impossible at first sight. The huge number of variables involved in the process or the problems that might arise, can turn things upside down for you. However, by following some simple guidelines, you can actually keep things under control…

The Haute Living Real Estate Network (HLRN) of HauteResidence.com is proud to recognize Thea Miller as a prominent real estate professional and the network’s newest partner. HLRN unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers, highlighting the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers and real estate enthusiasts.

About Haute Living Real Estate Network (HLRN):

Haute Living Real Estate Network (HLRN) of HauteResidence.com offers readers the most prominent directory of experienced realtors, brokers and luxury listings, and HLRN has grown to be the number one source for real estate news, residential developments, celebrity real estate news and more. Seeking an experienced interior designer? Hauteresidence.com is also home to Haute Design Network (HDN), a collective of celebrated interior designers that will help you decorate your new home or stage an active listing. Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com.

About Thea Miller:

Luxury-property specialist Thea Miller brings over 20 years of luxury sales and marketing to Pacific-Union/Christies International Real Estate, a global leader in luxury real estate. Thea is a verified member of the Top-Agent Network and Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate, whose members must be in the top 10% of their firms and top 10% of their local markets. Her properties have been marketed in 80 countries on Who’s Who Luxury Real Estate, California Homes and Design, The Nob Hill Gazette, The San Francisco Business Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Thea is also a member of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and San Francisco Association of Realtors.

Thea enjoys an exceptional reputation both with her clients and peers. She is known for being direct and trustworthy. Her clients will tell you that she goes out of her way to identify and adjust to their specific needs. Enthusiastic, competitive, and goal-oriented, she commands strong negotiating skills, knowledge of the City, diverse wealth of education and knowledge, and a solid client base to continue to allow her to achieve an exceptional level of performance and success in her real- estate practice.

Thea has been involved in many philanthropic efforts and is an active supporter of the ASPCA, Victorian Manor (a home for seniors), Make A Wish, Habitat For Humanity and cultural institutions such as The San Francisco Symphony and Ballet.

Thea grew up in New York, and lived in Manhattan for many years. Prior to joining Pacific Union, she was a Top Producer with TRI/Coldwell-Banker Previews International the Pacific Heights’ office.

Pacific Union is the leading, luxury real-estate brand in Northern California. For us, “luxury” is measured by the quality of our people. Whether clients are looking buy or sell a home, Thea is committed to providing them with an extraordinary experience. She prides herself on exceeding expectations at every turn, whether it’s her willingness to go the extra mile, or her unmatched professional expertise and experience.

Today, August 15th, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Julia Child, the beloved culinary revolutionary who brought the art of French cooking to America. Julia earned fame in the 1960s, not just by introducing French cooking to American kitchens, but by unlocking its mysteries, showing home cooks that they, too, could turn out French dishes at their own stoves. Multiple new books and films in recent years (like the 2009 movie Julie & Julia, starring the great Meryl Streep) prove that she’s still as popular and influential as ever before.

Chuck Williams, the founder of Williams-Sonoma [pictured with Julia above], counted Julia as a longtime friend. “She changed the way we cook,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle upon Julia’s death in 2004. When Julia retired to California, she donated her Cambridge, Massachusetts, kitchen—right down to the whisks and knives—to the Smithsonian Institution.

Photo by: Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian display of Julia’s kitchen, as seen through a window with hanging metal cutouts that recall her habit of tracing outlines on her pegboard so she’d know where to hang each pot.

As you can see above, Julia’s kitchen was surprisingly humble, measuring just 14’ x 20’ and featuring few of the shiny elements that we now consider essential for a chef’s kitchen. And while it may not look like today’s top chef domains, there is much to be learned from this simple kitchen.

In celebration of Julia, here are 10 lessons we’ve learned from her kitchen:

1. The kitchen is a workplace. The lack of frills and designer details in Julia’s kitchen serves as a reminder that for a true craftsman, function is all important. A gorgeous kitchen lifts the spirits, certainly, but the perfect kitchen won’t sacrifice efficiency for style.

Photo by: Schlesinger Library
Julia kept her pots, pans and ingredients close by the stove for quick access.

2. Store things where you use them. Julia kept frequently used oils and vinegars next to the stove for easy access, and kept ingredients like shallots and garlic hanging nearby. Likewise, she stored her everyday tableware on cabinet tops near the table, while her silver and fine china were stored outside of the kitchen.

3. Everything should have a place. Julia’s husband, Paul Child, developed a pegboard wall to hang Julia’s many pots and pans, most of which were purchased in France in the 1940s and ’50s. Each pot’s shape was outlined on the pegboard so it would always be returned to its designated spot. That said, even the great Julia Child had a “junk drawer” for miscellaneous objects.

Photo by: Schlesinger Library

Julia favored gleaming copper pots, which she hung on a pegboard on to keep them in sight and within reach.

4. Copper is keen. Julia’s copper pots weren’t just window dressing. She used them daily. Copper is often a chef’s choice of metal for cookware because it is the best thermal conductor.

5. You can never have too many pots. Don’t feel guilty about owning a lot of cookware. In addition to her pegboard wall of hanging pots and 800 knives, Julia owned 16 baking sheets!

6. Label it! Julia often labeled objects and their containers (sometimes humorously, like her “spoonery”), so that guests would put things back in their proper places.

Photo by: Schlesinger Library
Even bare walls can be used for storage, as Julia’s clever magnetic knife holders attest.

7. Go vertical. If you’ve run out of drawer and cabinet space, use your walls for storage. In addition to the pegboards, Julia hung magnetic knife racks between the windows to use every inch of storage space.

8. Light it right. The Childs had ample lighting installed throughout the kitchen to make day-to-day cooking easier (in addition to task lighting, poles were later mounted on the ceiling-held TV lights).

9. Own three essential knives. While Julia had 800 knives at the time her kitchen was donated to the Smithsonian, she said that home chefs needed only three essential knives: a chef’s knife, a bread knife, and a paring knife.

10. Embrace technology. Julia wasn’t one to insist on doing things the old-fashioned way. As soon as food processors became available, she adopted the technology that made it possible to purée in just seconds. She also urged home chefs to try non-stick pans when they first appeared in stores.

Photo by: PBS
Julia shared the unmistakable joy cooking gave her with countless television viewers over the years.

Remembering Julia Child: For those have you who have never seen Julia in action, head over to PBS Food to view nearly 100 episodes of In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs, Cooking With Master Chefs, The French Chef Classics, Baking With Julia, and three Cooking In Concert specials.

Plus, mark your calendars—the Smithsonian will hold a sneak peek between August 15 and September 3, and a larger exhibition anchored by the kitchen opens in November.

Some real estate sellers face an additional 3.8% sales tax in 2013 due to an adjunct to the Healthcare law. Not everyone, but many will be affected. That + a bottoming of prices, + record low interest = a buyer‚s market, we think. PreviewSFhomes.com offers you free and unlimited access to the MLS, foreclosures and short sales in the San Francisco real estate market.
Focus your search by inputting location, price and # of bedrooms/baths and we will email you daily a list of properties with those criteria ONLY.

Call Thea or Janis to view property, present offers, negotiate price and represent you in escrow, if your San Francisco real estate search proves fruitful. Reap all the benefits; the seller pays the commission.

Call Michael for loan preapproval, the step that positions you to move quickly if you find that great buy. He is a licensed mortgage broker with over 40 financial affiliations from which to shop the best loan for you. Ask about no down VA and 3.5% down FHA loans.